Cricket news round-up – November 17: India win inside three days, Afghanistan level series

India hardly broke a sweat to thrash Bangladesh by an innings and 130 runs inside three days; Afghanistan levelled the T20I series against West Indies; the Pakistan bowlers were kept at bay by the Cricket Australia XI; and Joe Denly, Ollie Pope, and Jos Buttler got fifties at Whangarei.

India brush Bangladesh aside, go 1-0 up

India beat Bangladesh by an innings and 130 runs at Holkar Stadium, Indore to go one-up in the 2-match Test series.

India declared on their overnight score of 493/6, with a lead of 343 runs. Sure enough, the Indian fast bowlers – Mohammed Shami (4/31), Umesh Yadav (2/51), and Ishant Sharma (1/31) – reduced Bangladesh to 72/5 by the 27th over.

Some resistance came from Mushfiqur Rahim (64), Liton Das (35), and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (38), but from 194/6 Bangladesh lost their last 4 wickets for just 19 runs. R Ashwin finished with 3/42.

The Afghans pull one back

Afghanistan beat West Indies by 41 runs to level the T20I series 1-1. The decider will be played at Lucknow on Sunday.

Batting first, the Afghan openers raced to 42 in 25 balls before Kesrick Williams (4-0-23-3) dismissed both off consecutive balls. Support also came from Jason Holder (4-0-23-2) and Keemo Paul (4-0-28-2). For Afghanistan, Hazratullah Zazai and Karim Janat top-scored with 26 apiece, off 15 and 18 balls respectively.

The West Indians never got going against the Afghan spinners. They delayed the onslaught, and once Janat (4-0-11-5) ran through the middle order they were left with no realistic chance. Janat found support from Mujeeb Ur Rahman (3-0-10-0) and Naveen-ul-Haq (3-0-19-1).

Pakistan bowlers kept at bay

Cricket Australia XI – a side devoid of any Test cricketer – batted through the second day of Pakistan’s tour match at Perth to finish on 246/7 to save the match.

Up against the tourists’ 386/7, the hosts were quickly reduced to 6/2 by Mohammad Abbas (2/22) and Muhammad Musa (2/32). However, Matthew Spoors (58) and Jonathan Merlo (78) batted till well into the second session, adding 122 for the third wicket.

The Pakistanis broke through again, this time reducing the hosts to 165/5, but Bradley Hope (50*) managed to bat out time.

Fifties for Denly, Pope, Buttler

Resuming the day on 26/1 against New Zealand A, England were quickly reduced to 105/5 at Whangarei by Blair Tickner (2/63) and Daryl Mitchell (2/34). But Joe Denly (68) stayed put, adding 90 for the sixth wicket with Ollie Pope (88).

Pope then added a subsequent 114 with Jos Buttler (88) before England’s lower middle order played out time.